The ninth-ranked (Class 4A) Fort Dodge football team knows exactly what’s at stake heading into Friday’s Homecoming contest with Le Mars.

Nik Moser’s squad won’t just be playing for pride and celebration as thousands of fans and alumni pack Dodger Stadium for a 7 p.m. kickoff. Fort Dodge (6-1 overall, 2-1 in District 1) is in line for a playoff berth and potentially one more home game if it takes care of business during the final two weeks of the regular season.

In order to get there, the Dodgers must first cage the Bulldogs (4-3, 2-1) – an opponent experiencing the same pressure and opportunity down the stretch of the year.

“We know all about the importance of this one and (the postseason implications), and I guarantee Le Mars does, too,” Moser said. “We’ve gone through the scenarios. If we win, we’re on track to being a district runner-up and an automatic playoff qualifier. If we lose, we have to wait and see. We don’t want to back ourselves into a corner where we don’t control our own destiny, and I’m sure they don’t, either.

“It’s different having Homecoming in Week 8, and because it’s the last regular-season game (at Dodger Stadium), so it’s Senior Night, too. There are a lot of potential distractions, but so far, our guys have done a great job of staying focused and keeping the main thing the main thing.”

Fort Dodge has posted consecutive road victories over Spencer and Storm Lake to force its way back into the home playoff discussion. Senior Dreshaun Ross is a big reason why; in the last two weeks alone, the 6-foot-4, 235-pound Oklahoma State University wrestling commit has 15 carries for 320 yards and five touchdowns on offense, with nine tackles for loss and seven sacks defensively.

Ross was injured last season when the Dodgers dropped a 44-37 thriller at Le Mars. Many of the Bulldogs’ key offensive pieces from that game – including quarterback Jami Sitzmann, receiver Tycen Augustine and offensive back Andrew Grant – are back.

Sitzmann (18 touchdown passes) and Augustine (10 TD catches) currently lead 4A in both scoring categories. Sitzmann has thrown for 1,177 yards, with Augustine catching 24 passes for 629 yards.

Grant has 390 rushing yards and 350 more receiving. He has scored seven times.

“Le Mars is a really good team and we know all about their main personnel,” Moser said. “Simply put, we couldn’t stop them (in 2024). We didn’t do a good job of tackling at all that night.

“This is another terrific challenge for our defense; we have to be disciplined, execute and play solid assignment football.

“Both teams, for obvious reasons, are going to be hungry for a win.”

Junior Will McElroy (770 yards, four touchdowns) and Ross (584 and eight) have been a potent combination on the ground for the Dodgers. Junior Tru McBride has thrown for 857 yards and six scores to balance the offense.

In addition to Ross, the defense has been anchored by fellow leading tacklers Sam Moser, Jayce Skow and Jesse Egli.

Fort Dodge’s defense has allowed only 14.3 points and 191.4 yards per game to date, but the Dodgers have forced just nine total turnovers in seven games. Le Mars’ defense, in contrast, has nine interceptions and nine fumble recoveries.

The Bulldogs’ three losses have been to opponents with a combined record of 18-3: No. 4 (3A) Sioux City Heelan (6-1), fifth-rated (3A) Sioux Center (6-1) and No. 5 (4A) Sergeant Bluff-Luton.

Fort Dodge is expected to welcome back senior all-stater Noah Daniel, who missed last week’s contest with a sprained knee. Junior offensive lineman Korben Davis is also slated to return.

The Dodgers have a 13-3 record since dropping last year’s season opener.